Despite years of Bible study and talking to many people, I have not yet had anyone show me a verse that clearly says "once saved, always saved?" Is there such a verse in the Bible, or is the doctrine of eternal security a conclusion from study of Scriptural themes and principles?
Welcome to CC, This subject as a contentious one whether you want it or not, I am sorry about that. For those who question OSAS most will say that 'one is trying to earn one's way to the Kingdom' when nothing of the sort is said or implied.
I am not a big word user, I don't go in for Greek and Hebrew studies, I use the child intellect, and trust the Holy Spirit to show me where I am on the map of righteousness as it were. I do have a couple of concordances, a stong's for the KJV and a Zondinovan's for the NIV, I don't use them much any more.
I am also not overly educated so first second third or forth person doesn't mean much to me but I do understand what I read and I am not a stupid or foolish fellow. In this everything written about how God can protect us from loosing our salvation, eg "there is neither height nor depth etc nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God" is all ok but for me. I. Myself.
I have had it said that "there is nothing I can do to loose my salvation", I retorted with does that mean I can commit adultery or fornication etc, because that is what those words mean. No one, even the one who stated it has given me a strait answer, no one will and no one can. I understand that as long as I, me, myself, want to Hold on to Gods promise of life eternal, then nothing can take that away from me. In this I stand. I also think everyone will agree with this.
If I decide because of reasons to evil to think of that I would turn away from God and start mocking Him and resorting to abuse those he has chosen, causing others to fall away because of my actions and words, then the "mill stone" scenario would come into play.
I have heard it said "Am I supposed to account for every sin I commit?" as if one would have to keep a diary for sins committed in ones pocket so one could bring them to account afterwards.
It is my understanding that The Holy Spirit lives in us all the time, and we are convicted of wrong doing as we do it and we give thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus there and then, in that moment. In my heart this is a reflection of the sprinkle effect with the blood of the sacrificed offering being sprinkled by the high priest here and there as it were, horns of the alter etc etc.
I myself am not convinced that if I wanted to I could not turn away from God. I am convinced that because I do not want to, that my salvation is assured, and that nothing in all creation can remove me from that situation, because I do not want to be removed from that situation.
If I thought otherwise then I would have licence to act and behave as I will, to indulge the flesh, which is far from the truth. It is a subtle change but as far as I am concerned it is dangerous, not for me I can stand and I am assured, but for those whose faith is week, for those who are coming to grips with a new life in Christ.
There are also those who will say of the servants that they are not servants, the ones to whom Jesus says "depart from me I never knew you". They will say they can't be saved at the first or else they would still be saved.
"From those who have been given, it shall be taken away, even the little they have" (paraphrase mine).
In putting in this post I am trying to welcome you to CC and bring you up to speed with the very large undercurrent of OSAS that exists here. I hope you are not put off, and I hope you will stay. I will not post on these threads any more, usually, but because you are new I could not let you open this box of snakes without a heads up.
